Two Dead and 19 Hospitalized Following Major Chemical Leak

A catastrophic chemical leak at a silver recovery facility in West Virginia has left two individuals dead and 19 others hospitalized, according to official reports.

The incident unfolded at the Catalyst Refiners plant in Institute as workers were in the process of shutting down operations. C.W. Sigman, the Emergency Management Director for Kanawha County Commission, provided details during a press briefing.

A violent chemical reaction occurred involving nitric acid and another unidentified substance, Sigman explained. "It instantaneously overreacted," he stated, emphasizing that "starting or ending a chemical reaction are the most dangerous times."

Among the injured were seven members of the ambulance crew who responded to the scene. Some victims were transported to hospitals in private vehicles, while one was even taken in a refuse truck, Sigman revealed.

Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for nearby residents, which was lifted after more than five hours. All reported fatalities and injuries were confined to the plant premises, with Sigman noting, "You had to get really close to the facility to smell it."

The emergency response necessitated extensive decontamination efforts, requiring individuals to remove all clothing and undergo thorough spray-down procedures.

Catalyst Refiners specializes in extracting silver from chemical process residues, capable of recovering significant amounts of the precious metal simply by vacuuming floors in plant offices, Sigman elaborated.

Ames Goldsmith Corp., the parent company of Catalyst Refiners, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic incident. "This is an unfathomably difficult time," the company stated during the press briefing. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our colleagues and their families."

The company has committed to cooperating fully with local, state, and federal authorities as investigations into the incident proceed.

Located approximately 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Charleston, the state capital, the factory's operations have been significantly impacted by this tragic event.